THE HOSPITAL NUISANCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 413, 2 December 1874, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL NUISANCE.

{To the Editor.) , Sir. — There is an. old adage, "An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory " I am led to make this remark by reading the report of the last meeting of the Town Council. In one part of the report it is stated that the Council Tesolved to take legal proceedings if the nuisance at the Hospital was not at once abated. A little further on, a hearty vote of thanks is passed to, Dr. Stewart for his excellent report on the sanitary state • of the town. Now I cannot see that much practical good results from these reports, as we are too much in the habit of reading them, and — nothing more. . I think if ,Dr.' Stewart could point to the Hospital, under his charge arid say " Come and' see my method- of deodorising and disposing , of , sewage, &c." The- practical benefits resulting - from such a good example, would be much greater than are likely tofollow from the moat elaborate , report ever written ; and I also think that any citizen who keeps his premises, clean, is far more deserving, of, a vote .ofithanks than the writer of the most exhaustive report who does not do so. With the fcge extent of ground surrounding the plospital, it is the simplest matter "possible, to get rid of everything in the shape of >;a nuisance. The Inspector of Nuisances, also, is very good at writing reports. The Council seem to think a little' too, good. Mere, again, it occurs to me, supposing the £15 or £20 paid as salary to the Inspector of Nuisances, were paid say to a scavenger for actually romoving the nuisances, and_ not writing about them, would not the sanitary state 'of the town be better than it is 1 I don't know whether' my idea could be legally. .carried oat, but it strikes me that the most efficient way to keep ihe town clean,, would be to employ a scavenger -, cori-r stantly, charging each householder fojr whatever wqrlsLis-. Aoiie-jaauhisjpremises. This would not absolve the\Eous§lroWrarfrom, being fined for any gross cases of neglect. •■!- believe ! ifa Christchurch a similar scheme is carried out, but I think a special rate is levied, on all alike, to pay the working expenses. I cannot Conclude without expressing an opinion i that the Town Council' of Lawrence - does not deserve. a L 'vctte. of thanks for the sanitary •state of the' town. . With Dr; Coughtrey's I repprt of , the state of Cromwell before them, what have they, ,done .to cleanse this town ? Have they- taken any steps whatever ? I, ask for information. Have they any v results to> show,- or are ■ ihey waiting till ' we get typhoid or cesspool fever in the town| before they will be urged i/O do .anything? Prevention is better than .cure; let us keep our premises 1 clean, and this fever cannot come amongst .iis. - One , thing'., is. plain, — ear^hclosets must be insisted ,oxl, in all cases. There are a fewj^nihe town, already,, . which perfectly .answer the purpose, for which they are iutehded. i I do- not. refer' to those at the - ; Hospital,' -as, when ' I ionce ; inspected them; -by • .permission *of tlie Resident Surgeon, they were • certainly not as dean as they ought to have been. Hoping that the; Town .Council . will take action in this matter. — I am, &c, ) ' J "' '-" ,-' *■ Saititas.